New Year's Eve features fireworks, torchlight parade on mountain

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Winter has not yet fully kicked in, but that did not stop local ski hills from celebrating New Year's Eve in style.

Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort and Black River Basin - both in Bessemer Township - featured live music and fireworks that drew large, family-friendly crowds that warmed themselves next to bonfires.

Excited kids, some decorated in beads and LED lights, ran, twirled and cartwheeled on the grounds.

The annual torchlight parade at Black River Basin had the crowd howling from the moment that participating skiers lined up at the top of the hill. The audience cheered as the skilled team zigzagged its way down the hill, with members carrying a torch in each hand.

As they ended the run, the skiers lined up at the bottom of the hill, where they held their torches aloft before plunging them down into the snow while fireworks rose behind them.

Among members of the audience was Dave Aho of Ironwood, whose wife, Cecilia, was skiing with the torchlight team.

Dave, who said he's also been part of past parades, was supervising his son, Kai, 7, who hopes one day to participate in what he views as a family tradition.

Dave joked that skiing in the parade is hard on the knees, but he spoke of it fondly and assured that there is no problem keeping the torches lit along the way.

"I ski in the torchlight every year," said Kevin Everson of Wakefield after the event. He added that participants get a kick out of pulling it off while getting such a positive vibe from the crowd. "Makes you feel cool."

He added that most participants are local, but there are some exceptions.

Kurt Stoeber and his daughter, Samantha - both of Chicago - were excited to be a part of the action.

"It was fun," said Samantha with a big grin. Her father said he's been coming to ski here for "more than 40 years."

The skiers had no shortage of fans.

"We loved the torchlight parade," said Heather Teter of Aurora, Illinois, who had traveled to the region with a large group of family members. "It was great."

Other participants mentioned being from several other Midwestern states, including Indiana and North Dakota.

Bruce Noren, general manager of Powderhorn, said they typically also offer a torchlight parade but were unable to do so this year because the run used in the past was not yet open due to insufficient snow.

"We'll pick it up again next year," said Noren.

Holiday feasts also were offered at various ski hills such as Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wisconsin, and at Jackson Creek Summit in Wakefield Township and at Powderhorn. The latter two locations also featured live music as a way to lead in the new year.

Jackson Creek and Black River Basin are both under the umbrella of Snowriver Mountain Resort.